“To you it is given to create the future and give it direction by offering to your students a set of values with which to assess their newly discovered knowledge. Few challenges are more exalting and rewarding than the instruction and guidance of young people, and few more difficult. You are preparing for adulthood and Christian maturity, a generation of Newfoundlanders, of Canadians, who will build the Church and the society of tomorrow.”
ADDRESS OF POPE JOHN PAUL II TO CATHOLIC EDUCATORS
St. John’s Basilica – Newfoundland, 1984
When we look to Atlantic Canadian Catholic schools, we see deep faith, truly inspirational leadership and an extraordinary dedication to the mission of Catholic education.
Operating with no public funding, Catholic school communities work tirelessly to ensure their schools are accessible to as many families as possible. Fundraising is a crucial aspect of their school year and every effort is made to keep operating costs to a minimum.
The Roman Catholic Independent Schools Association – Atlantic Region (RCISA-AR) was founded in 2010 in an effort to support and connect the five Catholic schools in Atlantic Canada. However, the strong relationship between Atlantic Canada and the CCSTA began much earlier than that.
Over the past many decades, Atlantic Canada has watched an incredible story of Catholic education unfold. Despite the removal of public funding, many dedicated Catholic educators and trustees from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland have preserved the gift of Catholic education and passed on its legacy of tremendous faith and hope in Atlantic Canada.
It’s with great joy that we anticipate the 2025 AGM & Conference in Halifax, NS!
A look at the numbers in Atlantic Canada:
Schools : 5
Students: Approximately 1250
Staff: 163
A Brief History:
The roots of the Newfoundland Catholic Trustees’ Association of Roman Catholic School Boards date back to the early 1950s. In 1960, Frank Kennedy, representing the association, attended the founding of CCSTA.
Throughout the 1960’s, Justice James J. Higgins was involved in the reorganization of Catholic schools in St John’s, NL and ensured a strong connection with CCSTA from its early years.
When he died unexpectedly in 1974, CCSTA created the Justice James Higgins award in his honor.
In 1998, the constitutional protections of publicly funded Catholic schools in Newfoundland were removed. As a result, the Newfoundland Catholic School trustees Association dissolved. In a keen effort to remain connected at the national level, St. Bonaventure’s College, an independent Catholic school in St. John’s and, later, Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Corner Brook, ensured representation on the CCSTA Board of Directors.
In 2010, to strengthen regional collaboration, the Roman Catholic Independent Schools Association – Atlantic Region was formed, uniting schools in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick under one association dedicated to Catholic education in Atlantic Canada.
Funding Structure
No Public Funding.
Protecting the Catholic Identity of Schools:
Atlantic Canadian Catholic schools demonstrate an extraordinary commitment to preserving and nurturing Catholic identity. All schools prioritize regular participation in the sacraments, including weekly or frequent Mass, prayer, and observance of liturgical seasons and feast days. Religious education is consistently provided across all grade levels, with catechism and theology integrated into the curriculum.
Schools also foster spiritual formation through campus ministry programs, retreats, and chapel time. Statues, icons and visible signs of our Catholic faith are present in each school environment and some schools are faithful to weekly participation in traditional devotions to the Rosary and Stations of the Cross.
Two of RCISA-AR’s schools follow in the mission and spirituality of specific religious communities. St. Bonaventure’s College in St. John’s, NL, operates in the Jesuit tradition and Sacred Heart in Halifax, NS, belongs to the Society of the Sacred Heart. Both schools remain connected to and draw support and resources from a global community of schools operating within the same spirituality.
Diocesan Involvement:
Several schools benefit from the frequent presence and participation of the local bishop and clergy, while other schools ensure an annual Mass with their archbishop. Schools also participate in diocesan events, such as Eucharistic Congresses, diocesean Holy Hours and Chrism Masses to ensure the students are participating in the life of the diocesan Church.
For some, the archbishop sits on their board of directors to remain connected with the life of the school. In an effort of ongoing fundraising, some schools have established strong relationships with local Catholic organizations such as the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Women’s League.
While there are no formal parochial schools in Atlantic Canada, there’s tremendous support on behalf of Catholic communities to help sustain each Catholic school.
Goals of the Association:
RCISA-AR representatives are looking forward to meeting together in June 2025, during CCSTA’s AGM & Conference. This rare opportunity to meet in-person will allow principals and board representatives to share updates on their schools, strengthen support for the association and discern future efforts to remain connected to one another.
Challenges Faced by Catholic Schools in Atlantic Canada:
Several schools are dealing with aging infrastructure and the need for significant renovations, including updated classroom environments and major repairs such as roof replacements.
Tuition costs are always at the forefront of board discussions in each province. Despite a significant emphasis on fundraising in each school, the rising cost of living and the financial pressure on families to afford tuition is an ongoing concern.
Some schools are navigating the challenge of finding new ways to connect with and form students in this increasingly digitized world. Issues such as excessive screen time, cell phone use, video game consumption, and the misuse of artificial intelligence are posing new challenges to student focus, behavior, and academic integrity. How our Catholic faith can help guide these students amidst these challenges remains a key question and discussion topic.
Some schools are discerning structural changes, such as the potential addition of higher grade levels.
Toonies For Tuition Impact:
Atlantic Canadian families benefit tremendously from Toonies for Tuition donations. In each province, navigating tuition costs and tuition assistance is a significant aspect of school operations. Catholic school principals, staff and boards work tirelessly to accommodate as many families as possible – and Toonies for Tuition plays a vital role in allowing them to do that.
Tuition assistance from across Canada has enabled countless families to attend Catholic schools. There are many students attending Atlantic Canadian Catholic schools who simply wouldn’t be part of these school communities without the generosity of Toonies for Tuition donations.
Thank you to the schools of RCISA-AR for helping provide this information!
Learn more about RCISA-AR Catholic schools here!
